First Baptist Church
224
Main St. Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315)
536-9821 e-mail: pyfbc@usadatanet.net
Rev. John R. Tharp, Pastor
- - - - DECEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER - - - -
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WORSHIP WITH US
December 3 1st
Sunday of Advent
“Loving God’s Law”
Deuteronomy
11:20-32
Old
Testament Challenge #9
December 10 2nd
Sunday of Advent
Natural Church Development
“A Mountain Brought Low”
Matthew
17:14-21
December 17 3rd
Sunday of Advent
“The Meaning of a Child”
Matthew
18:1-5
December 24 4th
Sunday of Advent
Christmas Eve
“New Life, New Hope”
Luke
2:8-20
Christmas Eve “A
New Star”
Matthew
1:18-25
7
p.m. Candlelight Service
December 31 “Another
Lap Around the Sun”
John
13:31-35
Greeters
Dec. 3 Joyce & George Slocum
Dec. 10 Judi Gibbs & Marion Miller
Dec. 17 Viola
Gray & Fran Morse
Dec. 24 Frances
& Margaret Hartwell Dec.
31 Jean
Brewer & Margaret Mills
Real Time
In our fast moving
world, we seem to generate new words and new definitions for old words, that
seem something different than they did just a few years ago. Of course, the
present generation has been terrifically impacted by the ubiquitous computer
and other technological marvels. Consequently, it is natural that a whole new
dictionary of “techno-speak” has emerged.
·
“Blackberries” are no longer picked off the vines
in your side yard, they cost $400 a piece and are tine little hand held
computers that work through satellite hook ups.
·
“Bytes” used to be spelled differently and was
something akin to a nibble, but now they are strings of ones and zeroes that
fill up computer programs.
·
“Times” comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and
normally shows us that we are behind it (the times, that is).
Since Einstein declared that time is a “relative”
term, relative, that is, to how fast we are going, it has become a little
confusing about what time it really is. Now we may thing that his problem is a
recent occurrence. If you have little kids, you may be on “school time”. If you
are employed, you are on “work time”. If you are retired you may be on everyone
else’s time. If you are wondering where this piece is going, then it is time
that we looked at how, “our time” relates to “God’s time”.
I
looked up the definition of “real time” on the web, and I found that it means:
“the time in which a computer system processes and updates data as soon as it
is received from an eternal source”. An alternate definition is: “the actual
time during which something happens”.
According
to Romans 8:19, “… all creation waits with eager longing” for the time of
Christ’s rule on earth. The prophets of old, “tried to find out when the time
would be and how it would come”, when God’s salvation would be experienced. (I
Peter 1:10-12) The scripture that I find the most helpful is Galations 4:4-6: “When
the right time finally come, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a
human mother and lived under the Jewish Law to redeem those who were under the
Law, so that we might become God’s sons (and daughters).
This
is the Christmas Story. It happened in “the right time”, “ the fullest of
time”, in God’s time. The date, December 25, will come and go with its usual
rush of activities. God is hoping that we will fill it with his spirit so that
the grace and peace for which this world longs can be fully experienced. When
Jesus preached at Nazareth, he said he used the words of Isaiah to “announce
that the time has come when the Lord will save his people”. (Luke 4:19) Our
best Christmas gift to each other is the gift Christ gave to us, the gift of
the grace and peace, which is the mark of his saving love.
God
bless you in the fullness of His “real time” this Christmas season.
Pastor
John
Christian
Education
Our Christmas
Pageant is December 17!
We are looking for Inn Keepers, Prophets,
Pinata breakers, and Songsters!
See a member of the Board for details.
Have You Met…. Lee & Dana
Ovenshire
Lee and Dana are
quite new to the congregation and have two daughters, Crystal and Sabrina.
Their main interests are reading and hiking. Dana and the girls worked with VBS
and assisted with the Mexican Fiesta. Great Grandmother Annabelle also attends.
She has varied interest and is a member of the WOTM.
Have You Met… Polly Logan
Polly is a native of the area, and
has three children, Jane, Tim and Loni. She is grandmother of six. Rachel,
Griffin, Zack, Noah, Josh and Jessica.
Polly is a graduate of Keuka College, a retired teacher, she likes to
read and spend time with her grandchildren. She is a long time member of FBC,
has served on boards, committees, Sunday School teacher and helping others. A
friend in “Deed.”
Have You Met… Frances and Margaret
Hartwell
Sisters, Fran and Margaret, are
active members of FBC. Margaret, a Syracuse City School Teacher for 30 years
before retiring is interested in travel, her yard and flowers. She has been a
member of the Board of Education, and has served on boards and committees of
the church.
Fran, a member
for 59 years, has been active on boards, and is now serving on the Diaconate.
She is a former bowler, likes to travel and is busy working on a genealogy of
both sides of her family.
Have You Met… Virginia DeLooza
Virginia DeLooza, is a widow and
lives at St. Mark’s Terrace. Her interests are reading (she is currently
working her way through the Bible), and a wide variety of music. She is
involved in Bible study and is a regular attendee at worship. Virginia loves to
shop with her nieces Norma Searles and Arlene Corey.
In Honor
The Penn Yan Area Council of Churches has
announced that a donation from The Once Again Shoppe, has been made to the
Humane Society of Yates County in honor
of Alice VanBuren in the sum of $500.00.
Christmas Concerts
Sunday, December 3 –
The Community Chorus will present their annual Christmas Concert here at First
Baptist Church at 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Friday, December 8 & Saturday, December
9 –
“Our Father’s Children” will present two “Reason for the Season” concerts to
benefit Food for the Needy.
The Friday night concert will feature “Our
Father’s Children.” On Saturday night the Folk group, “We Are Instruments” will
open the concert, followed by another performance by “Our Father’s
Children.” The concerts will begin at 7
p.m. Admission is a new and unwrapped toy or a canned food donation.
Mary
& Martha Circle & Fellowship
Class –
In the month of December, these two women’s groups
will join as one when they meet for
lunch at the Antique Inn on Wednesday, December 20 at Noon. If you would like
to attend see Marge Cornell or phone her at 536-6607.
White Cross
When you are planning your Christmas shopping,
please sign on the White Cross request list in the Sanctuary and share with
Neighborhood Ministries, Campbell, Ohio and Cameron Community Ministries
Rochester, NY.
·
Campbell has asked for 5 women’s sweatshirts and 5
women’s sweatpants.
·
Cameron has asked for a baby layette and a
personal kit for a new mother.
Check the list to see what you can share or speak
to Kathie Lawrence.
December
is: Kitchen Needs month Red Cross Needs
& Things
dishwashing
soap ~
sandwich bags ~ plastic wrap ~ aluminum foil
kitchen
cleaners ~ disinfecting wipes
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS!
1
Marge Moulton
4
Kyle Miller
15
Joyce Slocum
30
Karen Rasmussen
31
Betty Wood
Poinsettias for the Altar
Anyone
who wishes to place a Poinsettia on the altar for the Christmas Season in honor
of or in memory of someone who is close to their heart may do so.
Plants
may be brought in anytime after December 10 and they may be picked up after the
Christmas Eve service.
You
should call the church office by Monday,
December 18, and leave your name and the name for whom the plant will be
placed for.